Printing-machine.



3%- 8665863. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

G. F. HOPKINS.

PRINTING MACHINE. APPLIOATIOK nnnn EAR. 1a, 1902.'

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

g 20 1 1 125 1 .35 w A a m a U! f f a 26 i K 4/ l/OEH Y. WITNESSES: NVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

G. F. HOPKINS.

PRINTING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2' 85 44 i 43 3 s I 52/ ,2

WITNESSES:

- 2 ATTORNEY N0. 866 863. I PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

I G. F. HOPKINS.

HUNTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIQH nun MAR- 18, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wemassas: INVENTOR ATTQR N EY No. 866,863. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. G. F. HOPKINS.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APILIUATION FILED MAR. 18, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

To all wllom it may concem: Be it knownthat I, GEORGE F. HOPKINS, a citizen UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. HOPKINS, or NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO POLLARD-ALLING MANUFACTURING COMPANY, [ApoRPoRATIoN oFfiNnw YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed March 18,1902. Serial No. 98,753-

I of the United States, residing in the city, county, and

State of New York, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Printing-Machines, of which.

the following is a full, clear, and. exact description.

My invention relates to printing machines which are particularly adapted for addressing envelops, postal cards, wrappers and the like, but which may obviously be used for a variety of purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient device of the character specified, and to these and other .ends which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists of the novel construction,. arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various viewsFigur e 1 a front elevation of one form of printing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary elevation with parts broken away of the machine; the view being taken from the opposite side of the 'machine from that illustratedin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation, partly v in section of the movable bedplate'or support for the paper or article to be printed and the means for actuating it. Fig. 4 is a detailed side elevation of the ink I through a portion of the machine.

ing the means employed for throwing the locking pawl font and inking mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a portion of the bed-plate actuating means. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view The view illustratout of operation. Fig. 7 is a-detail perspective view ,of a chain of assembled printing plates} the view illustrating the printing surface of said plates. Fig. 8

- is a like view of the same, taken from the opposite side of the printing .plates. Fig. 9 is a detailed edge view of .thesame; the view illustrating the relative positions the platesassume in the machine. Fig. 10 is an edge view of the printing plates; the view illustrating the mannerin which the plates are turned relatively one to another in order to separate them.

In the' various views parts have been omitted and broken awayin order to more clearly. illustrate other features of the machine. V i

Generally speaking the machine comprises an im- ;.pact drum or impression cylinder which is adapted to food a chain of printing plates and to receive the impact of the material to/be printed as it is forced by the movable bed plate or carrier against the printing plates and after they have been properly inked in their approach to the printing point.

In the drawings 1 designates the fixed bed-plate of removed in order that the coil of the printing plates may be withdrawn or placed upon the supporting spindle. The reel 4 is a supply reel upon which a coil of printing plates may be threaded through the machine and over the segmental guide 6 to the takeoff reel 5. The chain of printing plates is made up of individual plates 7 each of which is provided with ears 8 that extend from one edge thereof and which have lateral projections 9 extending therefrom, so that each ear and projections 9 thereof constitute a T-shaped projection. These projections'are on one edge of each of the printing plates and are adapted to be seated within the recesses 10 formed in one edge of'an adjacent plate. The edge of the printingplate in which the recesses or indentures 10 are formed, is bent or turned over to form open mouth bearings 11 on each side of the depressions 10 which are adapted to receive the projections 9 which extend from the ears of an adjacent plate when the plates are turned to the position represented in Fig. 'lO'of the drawings. After the projections'on the ears have been seated in their hearings in the manner pointed out, the printing plates may be turned from 'the position represented in Fig. 10, to the position shown in Fig. 9, and it will be understood that the interlocking hinged joints between the printing plates prevent the plates from being separated one from another in every relative position of the plates, 1 except the position indicated in Fig. 10, and this relative position, the plates can neverassume in the machine.

The printing faces of the plates are preferably formed by striking the printing characters up from the body of the metal plates. It will be understood that by this arrangementthe plates can readily be disconnected one from another and the order or arrangementof the printing plates changed at will. The invention, therefore is particularly valuable in preparing mailing lists or the like, wherein changes are being made from time to time.

It will be observed that the joints between the hinged v printing'plates project from only one side of the chainor band, and that the opposite face of the band has a plane continuous surface. The band passes in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 from the supply reel to the take-off reel and in so doing the band passes around the impact cylinder drum or platen 12 which has its periphery serrated or grooved at regular intervals as indicated at 13. These serrations or grooves in the portion Periphery of the platen or drum are spaced apart at distances which correspond to the distances between the hinged joints of the printing plates so that that of the drum contained between every two serrations 13, constitutes a bed upon which the rear face of a printing plate is adapted to rest in the movement of the band with the drum. The serrations in the periphery of the drum not only afford means which en-,

able the printing plates t rest fiat upon the drum, but they likewise constitute. by their engagement with the hinged joints, means for feeding the band forward...

and maintaining a fixed relation between the surface of the drum and the various printing plates. The band in passing from the supply reel to the drum passes under a freely mounted roller 14 that is carried upon a spindle 15 which projects from anarm 16 that is con nected to a threaded stem or laterally projecting pin 17 which extends through fixed standard or support 18 and is engaged on the opposite side of said support by a thumb nut-19. By these means the roller can be adjusted. with relation to the face of the impact cylinder or platen 12. In order to'accom'plish said adjustment it is simply necessary to loosen the thumb nut 19 and raise or lower the roller around the pin 17 until the desired position is attained, when the thumb nut may be tightened and the roller secured in such position. The band after passing around the drum is guided over a roller 20 which is pivoted to -a fixed arm 21 which extends laterallyfrom the standard 3. The band next passesover the outer face of the segmental support 6 and "from thence to the take-off reel.

Motion is transmitted to the various partsof' the (le has a k 23 allx w ed. t icreto at 24 ntermediate of ts ends. Th upper end of this nk 23 is pivowilys wed at 25 to. t rank arm as hat is mou ted, neon mo k shah 21 The rock. haft: 2Z1ik'e Wis has a r nk'ana. 2% extending therefrom and to the r e end o his crank arm is secured one end of a aet trseti espring the lower n f this springbein se ured to pin :9 which projects laterally to the standard or support of the machine. This spring tends to Q Q the ro k shaft 2.7, the treadle and other va $033. pit f'tfi GQIltlOllQd thereby, to the normal position. In addition. to the arms-2G and 28the rock shaft 27 is provided Withan upwardly extending arin 31 which is pivoted at 3.2 to the-link 33; the upper end of which is, pivotally connected to-an arm or link 34 thatcar lies a pawl 35 which engages a ratchet wheel 3 ratch t Wheel 36 is connected to a takeoff reel fian intermittent rotation is imparted to the'reel through" the mechanism just described, in order. to take up the band of printing plates as they are fed iorward'bythe,

' transmitted byhan cylinder 1.2- v v The crank arm 26 has a two-part link -37 pivoted thereto at 38. This two-part link is provided with right and left hand screw threaded ends 38 with which a turn buckle or capstan screw 39 cooperates in order to shorten or lengthen the link as desired. The upper end of the two-part link 37 is connected at 40 to anoscillating plate 41 which is pivoted upon the shaft of spindle 42 and is provided with a carrier 43 which surrounds the shaft and from which a cam 44 extends. The plate, likewise has pivoted thereto at 45 a'feed pawl 46 which has connected thereto at 47 a contract- I low thelevelof, the in r inking-"rbller' vice through a treadle 21 which is pivoted M2 2 a d senses ile'spring 48 the oppositc 'en'd oi 'th 'priir being secured to the carrier A3,.by a screw 49. The forward face 50 of the feed pawl is straight, whereas the" site face 51 thereof is slightly rounded at its lower end, so that it may readily ride out of the openings 52 formed between the teeth 53 of the feed wheel 54 during the movement of the pawl with its plate 41 in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 2. The forward flat face-.50 oit'the pawl 46 will on the other hand engage the teeth'53 ofthe feed wheel 54 and transmit a rotary movement thereto when the feed pawl is moved with a direction opposite to that i The feed wheel 54'- which'has ust operatively connected to 'th that the lntermitte t 1 feed wheel will provide a corre' of the drum. The plat '1' to at 55, a link the er e at 57 to an arm iifithatis ed in the portion '60 of V a tchet i eel 67 at, as a feed as; a;

the ratchet wlieei' P s awar ea secured at its upper end as indicated t 74 plate, such' 'as bronz a se s n. a' slia' a entiend srth is'cw s 75 wliich are threaded int op deterrent" to 'r .:-'1'

ila care as as rollers are"grammaticallyroared d1 n n otath the" scopesthe drum or cylinder 12. This adjustment of the ink font may be accomplished by any suitable means; in the present instance I employ a screw which is received within a stud or flange on the supporting plate 70 and has its inner end extended into a threaded opening in the base of the ink font so that an adjustment of screw 70" will move the ink font towards or away from the cylinder 12 in accordance with the direction in which saidscrew is turned. The ink font may be secured in the adjusted position by means of screws 70 one of which is provided at each side of the ink font and each of these screws passes through a split collar 70 which bears upon a flange which projects from the side of the font, and when pressure is exerted on the upper faces of these split collars by screwing the screws 70 into threaded openings in the base 70 the font may be securely mounted in the adjusted position. It will likewise be observed that by these means I am enabled to remove the ink font entirely in case of necessity. I

The feed wheel is firmly locked against rotation by a locking pawl 83 which is pivoted at 84 to a bracket 85 that extends from the frame 60. The nose 86- of the locking pawl is adapted to be seated in the openings 52 in the feed wheel and'thus prevent movement thereof in either direction. The locking pawl is forced to the locking position by a spring 87 which has one end secured thereto; the opposite end of. said spring being secured to a suitable fixed portion of the machine. A latch 88 is pivoted at 89 to the locking pawl, and when in the position represented in Fig. 2 of the drawings is adapted to bear against a pin or stop 90 which is carried by the locking pawl. The latch is normally held in this position by a contractile spring 91 which is securedat one end to thelatch and at its opposite end to the locking pawl- During the I ovement of the cam 44 in the direction of the arrow 1) this latch will be moved too: side of the cam without raising the nose 8001i the locking pawl out of engagement with the feed wheel; the dam merely, vibrating the latch around its pivot 88 and against the' tension of its spring 91. When, however, the cam 44 has passed the latch in the manner described'and moves 1 11 an opposite direction it will cause the locking pawl to be elevated in order to disengage it from the feed wheel 54. The cam 44 is effective. to bring about this disengagement at this time because the stop 90 prevents an independent movement of the latch withrelation to the locking pawl, and the pressure exerted on the latch is effective to raise the pawl. It will therefore be understood that the vibration of the plate 41 in the direction of the arrow 11 in Fig. 2 will cause the feed pawl 46 to ride free and independently of the feed wheel 54 and the cam 44 will, during this movement vibrate the latch 88 against the tension of its spring without raising the locking pawl out of engagement with the feed wheel. When, however, the latch 4] is vibrated in the opposite direction the cam 44 which is at this time on the opposite side of the plate from that represented in Fig. 2, will cause the locking' pawl to be raised in order to release the feed wheel, and the feed wheel will be fed forward by the pawl 46 in order to bring a-new printing surface to the printing point. Should the operator desire to permanently maintain the locking pawl out of engagement, it is simply necessary to move the slide 95 in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 2, when the cam 96 formed on the slide (see Fig. 6) will be brought into contact with a pin 97 which projects from the rear face of the locking pawl, thus causing the locking pawl to be elevated and maintained out of engagement with the feed wheel. When the slide 95 is moved in an opposite direction the spring 87 of the locking pawl will again force it into engagement with the feed wheel.

The rock shaft 27 which has been described, is pro vided with a piece or arm 98 which extends therefrom and within a hollow standard or' support 99 which constitutes a part of the machine frame. This piece 98 is provided with laterally extending ears'lOO and 101; the uppermost ear 100 having a screw threaded aperture for the reception of a set screw 102 and a jam nut 103 maintains it in it's adjusted position. The lower stud or ear 101 extends beneath-an. arm 104 which is loose upon the shaft 27. This arm 104 is formed integrally with an arm or projection 105 which extends into an aperture 106 in a vertical movable bed or carrier 107. The lower face of the arm 105 is adapted to bear upon a rod 108 which is threaded at its lower end as indicated at 109 and is received within a threaded opening in the carrier 107. This rod is preferably made of tool steel and may be adjusted in its bearing in the carrier inorder to compensate for wear which takes place by that I action of the arm 105 upon the carrier. The head 110 of this rod is adapted to secure a disk or plate 111 to the carrier so as to provide an abutment for the lower end of the spring 112 which is contained within the recess 113and bears at its upper end against the upper part or wall bf the recess. The upper end of this spring bearing as it does against a fixedportionof the machine tends to force the carrier and the parts operatively connected thereto to the lowermost position. The purpose of the piece 98 with the set screws 102 and stud or projection 10] thereon in their cooperation with the arm 104, is to provide means for compensating for articles of different thickness to be printed in the machine. Thus, for instance, if postal cards or the like are to be printed upon, the set screws may be adjusted to the position represented in the drawings, in order to provide for an article of minimum thickness. 1 If, however, magazines or like thick articles are-to be printed, the set screw will be raised to the desired height, thus compensating' for the additional thickness of the material to be printed. Thus, for instance, if the set screw 102 be elevated, it will permit the carrier 107 to be forced to a lowernormal position by its expansion spring 112, and thereby enable the given extent of throw imparted to the carrier to properly print the article carried thereon without danger'of injuring the printing surface. The

carrier 107 has secured at its upper end a bed 114 which may be adjusted to the desired position thereon by means of the set screws 115 so as to properly present the supporting face thereof in order that an even impression may be provided. It will be understood that the article to be printed rests, upon this adjustable bed at the upper end of thecarrier and that motion transmitas tothe rock shait 27 from the treadle will cause the carrier to be elevated, thus bringing the article supported thereon into contact with the. printing plate which is in cooperative relation therewith. Extending laterally from the carrier is an arm 116 to which is secured, adjustably or otherwise, one or more studs 117 which support a feed-table 118 inplaoe, It will be ob served that this feed-table is at the same height as the upper face of the supporting bed 114 and the table may be provided with one or more suitable guides (not shown) to facilitate the feeding of the sheets or material to the supporting bed on thccarrier. By this construction it will be seen that the carrier is provided with an adjustable supporting member whereby the work can be elevated to different positions for the same operation or movement of the carrier, and this without affecting the operation of advancing the drum from the actuating means, which in the present instance is a trcadle.

While Ihave shown and described with considerable particularity one form or embodiment of my invention it should be understood that various changes in the construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. r 7

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In u'printing machine, the combination of a revoluble drum having peripheral grooves therein, a chain of hinged printing plates, the hinges of which are received within the grooves of said drum, a reciprocating supporting carrier which -is adapted to support and move the material to be printed into contact with a printing surface on said printing plates, means for actuating said carrier, inking rollers, and means for automatically revolving the drum aud tor moving the inking rollers when the carrier is actuated.

2. 'In a printing machine, the combination of a revoluble drum having peripheral grooves therein, achain of hinged printing plates, the hinges of which are adapted to be received within the grooves of said drum, a supply and takeoil. reel for said chain of printing plates, means for automstically rotating said take-off reel, a reciprocating carrler which is adapted to movethe material to be printed into contact with a printing surface on said printing plates, means for actuating said carrier, an ink font, inking rollers which cooperate with the printing surface to supply ink to the latter, and means for automatically revolving the drum and the inking rollers when the carrier 'is actuated. p

3. In a-prlntingmachine, the combination of a revoluble drum, 0. chain of hinged printing plates which cooperate therewith, means for locking said drum against rotation in either dlrection, tin-oscillating feeding device for imparting an intermittent rotary movement to said drum,

and means for automatically releasing said locking means and maintaining them disengaged during the forward "moiement of the feeding device and for permitting said locking meansfco remain in the engaged position during the I rctractile movement of the feeding device.

4. In a printing machine, the combination of a revolnble drum, 8. chain of hinged printing plates which coiiperates therewith, a locking pawl for locking said drum against rotation, an oscillating feeding pawl for imparting an in termittent rotary movement to said drum, a pivoted latch carried by said locking pawl, a pin with which said latch coiiperates and a cam or abutment which cooperates with the latch to automatically raise said locking pawl during the movement of the cam-or abutment in one direction, and for permitting said locking pawl to remain in the engaged position during the movement of the cam or abutment in an opposite direction.

5. In a printing machine, the combination of a revoluble drum havlngp ei'ipheral grooves therein, a chain of hinged printing plates which cooperates therewith and the hinges of which are adapted to .be seated in said grooves, a locksemses Y i pawl tor locking he drum against rotation, a locking wh l which c operates herewi h nd w i h is conn cted to said dr m, a o il at ng feed p wl tor imparting an. intermittent ro ry m v t to d dr m, n pivoted latch carried by said-locking pawl, a pin with which said latch coiiperates and-a cam or abutment which cobperates with the. latch to automatically raise said locking pawl t ug he atch during t e movem nt. or the com or abutment i on direction and for permit ing said lo k ng pawl to remain in the engag d position during the movemen or-the cam or abutment 1n a pposi e direct n.

6. n. a printing machine, t e combination of a revo ub e dru a cha n 01! hinged printi g p ates whi h cciip rates therewi h. mea s for locking said drum a nst rotation, an oscillat g eeding devlcemr importing a ntermittent rot ry. move ntto said r m, and means or automat ically releasing said locking means during the movement of the fe d ng device in one dir ti n a d r permitting said locking means to remain in the engaged position during the movement of the feeding device in an opposite direction, a pin on the locking pawl and a hand operated cam which is adapted to contact with said pin to raise and maintain the locking pawl out of engagement,

7. In a printing machine, the combination of a chain of printing plates, a drum cooperating therewith, 8, carrier for the material or article to be printed, an actuating device operatively connected to feed the printing plates, to

turn the drum, and to reciprocate the carrier, and means I for adjusting said carrier without altecting the feed-of the printing plates or the operation of the drum, whereby different thicknes ses of material to be printed may be compensated for.

8. In a printing machine the combination oi printing instrumentallties, a carrier for the material to be printed, a rock shaft 27, means for rocking said shaft, aniiism secured to said shaft, :1 set screw carried by the arm and means with which the set screw contacts and which cooperates with the carrier to move it.

9. In a printing machine the combination of an impact drum, a chain of printing plates coiiperating therewith, a carrier for the material to be printed, 21 rock shaft 27, a treadle for rocking said shaft, an arm secured to said shaft, laterally extending studs projecting from said arm, a set screw carried by one of said studs, a loosely disposed arm which extends between said studs and with which the set screw contacts and operative connections between the loosely disposed arm and the carrier.

10. In a printing machine, the combination of a printing band, a drum arranged to support the band to bring successive portions to a printing position, a carrier for holding the work, an actuating device arranged to advance the drum and also to operate the carrier to and from the printing position, and adjustable means on said carrier for varying the position to which the work is carried at each operation thereof.

11. In a printing machine, the combination with a band i of jointed printing plates, of a drum rotatably supported and arranged to engage the plates successively on rotation, a carrier movable to and from the drum, means for moving the drum, means connected with said means for reciprocating the carrier at each advance of the drum, and an engaging member on the carrier adjustable thereon to vary the position to which the work is carried at each reciprocation of the carrier.

12. In a printing machine, the combination with aband of jointed printing plates, of a drum rotatably supported and arranged to engage the plates successively on I'Qiation, a carrier movable to and from the drum, means for moving the drum, means connected with said means for reciprocating the carrier at each advance of the drum, an engaging member on the carrier adjustable thereon to ry the position to which the work is carried cation of the carrier, and means for adj on the carrier. i

In testimony whereof-we have hereunto signed the fore; going specification this 13 day of Febyf1902 GEORGE r. nomgms, 

